News | ARLnow.com

Worker Rescued After Falling Through Home’s Back Porch

Published December 7, 2015 at 1:45PM

A construction worker had to be rescued by Arlington firefighters after falling through the back porch of a house in North Arlington.

The incident happened just before 1 p.m. on the 1300 block of N. Quintana Street, near Madison Manor Park and the Four Mile Run trail

A worker was reportedly jackhammering the porch when he fell through into some sort of concrete pit or recessed area. The man’s leg was pinned but the first arriving firefighters were able to extricate him before a technical rescue team arrived, according to ACFD spokesman Lt. Shawn Pendo.

The man suffered “minor injuries” — a broken leg, according to scanner traffic — and was transported to a local hospital, Pendo said.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 7, 2015 at 9:15AM | Updated December 7, 2015 at 12:46PM

Passenger Thrown from Minivan in Crash — Three people were hurt in an early morning crash on S. Arlington Ridge Road today. Police say a car traveling at 55 mph on the residential street slammed into the back of a minivan near 23rd Street S., causing one passenger in the van to be ejected from the vehicle. [WJLA, NBC Washington]

School Board Approves $100 Million H-B Design — The Arlington School Board has approved a concept design for the Wilson School in Rosslyn, future home of the H-B Woodlawn secondary program. With a 92-space parking garage factored in, the construction cost of the school may exceed $100 million. Also last week, the School Board confirmed that it will again ask the County Board for permission to build a new elementary school on the Thomas Jefferson Middle School campus. [InsideNova, InsideNova]

County Facebook Post Raises Eyebrows — Democratic political operative Ben Tribbett, among others, is calling an Arlington County Facebook post about a local Democratic resolution on the Redskins team name an “inappropriate use of a government Facebook account.” Tribbett was previously hired by the team to defend its name. [Facebook, Blue Virginia]

Nine Arlington Restaurants Make Top 50 List — Nine Arlington establishments have made Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top 50 Restaurants list. The highest on the list is new-this-year Kapnos Taverna in Ballston. [Patch]

Fisette on County’s Support for I-66 Plan — Arlington County Board member Jay Fisette says the county supports a plan for tolling I-66 because it is a regional compromise that’s cost effective, multimodal and not “the typical knee-jerk reaction [of] just widening roads.” Fisette notes that Arlington “was traumatized by the building of I-66 right through some of our neighborhoods” in the 1970s and 80s. [Washington Post]

Four Mile DMV Moving After Losing Lease — Dozens of angry Fairfax County residents came out to a meeting Thursday night to express opposition to a new DMV office in the Barcroft Plaza shopping center. The meeting also revealed more information on why the DMV is moving from its current location on S. Four Mile Run Drive. The DMV reportedly lost its lease due to a planned redevelopment, which has since fallen through. [Annandale VA]

More Info on Courthouse Redevelopment — We now know a bit more about the planned redevelopment of a low-rise office building in Courthouse. A 15-story, 91-unit condo building with 2,000 square feet of ground floor retail space is planned to replace the office building at 2000 Clarendon Blvd. [Washington Business Journal]

Flickr pool photo by Eric

Crime Report: Woman Assaulted With Mug, Butter Knife

By ARLnow.com

Published December 4, 2015 at 3:45PM | Updated February 27, 2020 at 4:16PM

On Monday, a woman was allegedly assaulted with a mug and a butter knife in Rosslyn.

From this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report:

MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 151130008, 1300 block of N. Lee Highway. At approximately 7:35 a.m. on November 30, a 51 year-old homeless male subject assaulted a homeless female victim with a mug and stabbed her several times with a butter knife. The victim was transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Gary Lynn Champagne, 51, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding.

The rest of this week’s crime report, after the jump.

(more…)

ART Bus Service Replacing Metrobus 3A Route on Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com

Published December 4, 2015 at 2:45PM

ART bus service is coming to Lee Highway.

A new ART route will be replacing part of the Metrobus 3A route, between the East Falls Church and Rosslyn Metro stations, starting next Sunday.

ART 55 will operate from the same bus stops as Metrobus 3A, at the same rush hour frequency and a higher midday and weekend frequency.

The county issued the following press release about the change today.

Starting Sunday, Dec. 13 a new Arlington Transit (ART) route, ART 55, will replace part of the Metrobus 3A route and connect two Metrorail hubs–East Falls Church and Rosslyn.

The new service will be more frequent midday and weekends, more reliable, and cost the County less to operate, because ART bus service is less expensive to operate than Metrobus.

“Replacing the 3A with lower-cost ART service allows us to reinvest the savings in expanded midday and weekend service along Lee Highway, which residents have been asking for,” said Director of Transportation Dennis Leach. “Converting the route to ART service also gives us the flexibility to adjust and improve service in the future to meet the needs of our community.”

ART 55 in Arlington will stop at all the same places as the 3A.. During weekday peak periods, ART 55 service will run every 12 minutes, the same level of service the 3A provides today. During middays and weekends, ART 55 will run more frequently than the 3A does now:

Every 15 minutes midday (compared to every 30 minutes for the 3A)

Every 20 minutes during the day on Saturday (compared to every 30 minutes for the 3A)

Every 30 minutes nights and Sundays (compared to every hour on Sunday for the 3A)

Weekday service will run until 1:44 a.m. (compared to 12:57 a.m. for the 3A), and the hours of service on weekends will be the same as the 3A.

ACPD Releases Statement on San Bernardino Shooting

By ARLnow.com

Published December 4, 2015 at 1:45PM

The Arlington County Police Department is well-prepared for active shooter and terrorism threats.

That’s the message from a statement issued by ACPD today, in response to the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California earlier this week.

The statement, below, also encourages residents to report suspicious activity via the county’s Homeland Security Tip Form or via smartphone app.

The Arlington County Police Department extends our sincere condolences to the San Bernardino, California community. We want to reassure the citizens of Arlington County that our officers remain vigilant in their patrols of our community. Officers receive extensive training in active shooter situations and have the tools necessary to respond should an incident occur. There are currently no active threats to the Washington, D.C. area and our Homeland Security Section continues to monitor these incidents with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.

Citizens are encouraged to go about their normal business while paying particular attention to their surroundings. You are the first line of defense against terrorism and by providing information to law enforcement, you may help deter possible terrorist activity. Report suspicious activity in Arlington County using the Homeland Security Tip Form or to nationwide intelligence centers using the See Send smartphone application. Together, we can help keep Arlington County safe.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 4, 2015 at 8:30AM | Updated December 4, 2015 at 9:31AM

Dems Vote For Redskins Team Name Change — The Arlington County Democratic Committee voted Wednesday to officially call on Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder to change the team’s “offensive” name. Some Democrats opposed the vote, suggesting that “nobody would take the resolution particularly seriously.” [InsideNova]

New Trend: Karaoke Leagues — Team karaoke leagues and costumed karaoke competitions are all the rage in Arlington, D.C. and New York City, according to a Wall Street Journal trend piece. [Wall Street Journal]

Kudos for Local Chinese Restaurant — Peter Chang’s restaurant in the Lee-Harrison Shopping Center is “the best neighborhood Chinese restaurant in Washington,” according to food critic Tom Sietsema. [Washington Post]

Marymount Tree Lighting Ceremony — The public is invited to attend Marymount University’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony tonight. The ceremony will take place in front of Marymount’s Lodge building starting at 6 p.m. and will feature music from the Randolph Elementary School Choir.

Arlington Tech Co. Raises $4 Million — Rosslyn-based LiveSafe has raised $4 million in a new venture round. The company makes mobile campus safety software for universities, large companies and government agencies. [DC Inno, Washington Business Journal]

Winners of Startup Competition Announced — Arlington County has announced the winners of the U.S. round of the Dongsheng/AC Bridge Entrepreneur Competition. The global competition is a partnership between Arlington Economic Development and China-focused investment company Dao Ventures. [Arlington County]

New Patch for 74-Year-Old Marathon Runner — Retired Marine Al Richmond, who at the age of 74 recently completed his 40th Marine Corps Marathon, has been presented with a special patch at a ceremony at his Arlington home. Richmond said he plans to keep running and improve on this year’s performance. [CBS Local]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

Six Pentagon City Mall Restaurants Closed Due to Sewage Backup

By ARLnow.com

Published December 3, 2015 at 4:45PM

Six restaurants inside the Fashion Center at Pentagon City mall have been closed due to a sewage backup.

Citing an “imminent health hazard,” the county’s health department has closed the following: Maki of Japan, McDonald’s, Popeyes, Panera Bread, Great Wraps and Which Wich.

“Public Health is aware of the situation and will work with the establishments to help get them up and running when it is safe to do so,” said Arlington County Dept. of Human Services spokesman Kurt Larrick.

Several other restaurants in the mall’s food court were unaffected by the sewage issue and remain open.

File photo

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 3, 2015 at 9:20AM

APS Sweeps Top 16 of Best Elementary School List — The top sixteen schools on a new list of the best public elementary schools in Virginia are all Arlington public schools. Moreover, 19 of the top 20 are Arlington schools. [Niche]

Deal on Historic Designation for Stratford Nears — The Arlington County Board, School Board and NAACP appear close to striking a deal for the historic preservation of the Stratford building, the current home of H-B Woodlawn and a future middle school. Stratford was one of the was the first public school in Virginia to integrate, in 1959. Meanwhile, the Arlington Civic Federation is debating whether the middle school should retain the “Stratford” name, which pays tribute to the plantation where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was born. [InsideNova]

Group Reaches Cemetery Wreath Goal — The group that places wreaths on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery around the holidays has met its fundraising goal thanks to last-minute donations. Just a few days ago Wreaths Across America was 30,000 wreaths short of its goal of placing wreaths on each of the cemetery’s 230,000 headstones. [WTOP]

Garvey Back in Black at ACDC — Arlington County Board member Libby Garvey has formally been welcomed back into the good graces of the Arlington County Democratic Committee, more than a year after she endorsed Republican-turned-Independent John Vihstadt in his successful bid for County Board. Garvey is up for reelection next year and there are rumors that she will face a Democratic primary challenge. [InsideNova]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf

UPDATED: Fight Outside Columbia Pike McDonald’s

By ARLnow.com

Published December 2, 2015 at 4:45PM | Updated December 2, 2015 at 5:19PM

(Updated at 5:20 p.m.) Arlington County Police responded to a fight outside of a Columbia Pike shopping center Wednesday evening.

The fight was reported around 4:30 p.m. outside of the McDonald’s at 5005 Columbia Pike, in the Columbia Pike Plaza shopping center parking lot.

Initial reports suggest there was an active fistfight between two men, surrounded by about 20 people watching the fight.

At least one of the fighters has reportedly been detained by police, while officers are still searching for the other.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 2, 2015 at 9:15AM | Updated December 2, 2015 at 9:39AM

More Metro Delays — A disabled train outside of the Farragut West Metro station produced big delays for those heading into Virginia via the Orange, Silver and Blue lines this morning. [Twitter]

Local Credit Card Holiday Spending — Arlington residents are charging an average of $718.43 on credit cards for holiday gifts this year, estimates the website Nerd Wallet. While that seems like a high number, collectively those in Arlington buying holiday gifts without using a credit card are missing out on $138,846.46 in rewards points, the website says. [Nerd Wallet]

Arlington Still Tops for Va. Tourism — Arlington remains the top tourism destination in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county attracts more than 6 million people who spend nearly $3 billion here and generate some $81 million in local taxes annually. The tourism industry accounts for about 25,000 jobs in Arlington. [Arlington County]

County Unveils New Online Calendar — Arlington County has rolled out Arlington Today, a new and improved calendar of local events. First up this morning on the calendar: a performance by The Rocking Chairs, the “in-house band” of the Lee Community and Senior Center. [Twitter]

Local Startup Raises $16 Million — Want to start a company in Arlington that can raise big bucks? Do so in the cybersecurity field. Data security software maker ThreatConnect, which recently moved from Shirlington to the Ballston area, has raised $16 million in a new round of funding. [DC Inno]

Arlington Recognized as Bike Friendly Community — Arlington has been named a Silver-level “Bicycle Friendly Community” for the third time since 2007. We’re one of 75 communities in the U.S. to achieve that rating. [Arlington County]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 1, 2015 at 9:55AM

Shirlington Tree Lighting Rescheduled — Due to rain, the Shirlington tree lighting event scheduled for tonight has been rescheduled. The holiday event is now set for Monday, Dec. 7 from 6-8:30 p.m. [Facebook]

Yona Now Open in Ballston — New ramen restaurant Yona opened for lunch yesterday in Ballston, attracting a “packed house” for $15 bowls of ramen. The restaurant, at 4000 Wilson Blvd, plans to start serving dinner on Friday. [Yona, Twitter]

Pothole Attracts Attention of Pentagon Police — A pothole on a stretch of roadway near the Pentagon attracted the attention of security forces after at least three cars became disabled due to running over it. Pentagon police are sent to investigate any time a vehicle stops on the site of the highway in view of the building. In 2010 a man fired shots at the Pentagon from his car on the side of I-395. [WTOP]

Flickr pool photo by Kevin Wolf